Altered criteria add luster to valedictorian honors

Last year, it wasn’t so lonely at the top.

Between Coeur d’Alene’s two high schools, more than 20 shared the title of valedictorian – and the microphone at their schools’ graduation ceremonies. With so many students sharing the top honor, traditional graduation speeches gave way to shared speeches and sound bites.

On the upside, every one of those students had an advantage when applying to college or for scholarships. For some, the title of valedictorian was as good as a “Get Into College Free” card.

A weighted grading system that went into effect with this year’s graduating class has resulted in a single valedictorian at each of the district’s high schools. To even be considered for the honor, students had to enroll in upper-level classes and take four years of foreign language.

“It’s more of an accomplishment because there’s only one of each,” said Kara Eberle, Coeur d’Alene High’s valedictorian for 2005. Last year, nine students shared the title of valedictorian at CHS.

“It means more,” Eberle said.

Eberle and her classmates were told their eighth-grade year that they would have to take more rigorous classes and meet more stringent requirements than previous candidates for valedictorian. For Eberle, that meant four years of Spanish and completing several Advanced Placement courses.

“It gets to be a big mess of homework,” she said.

Marki Grimsley, the school’s salutatorian, said she supported the use of weighted grades to determine the school’s top student.

Under the old system – with the highest grade-point average alone determining valedictorian status – Grimsley said several students qualified for the honor, but all may not have worked as hard.

“There are a lot of people that have straight A’s that haven’t taken the most difficult classes,” she said.

High grades are commonly used to determine valedictorian status at other local schools, but most take other factors into consideration to narrow the field.

The Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy chooses the student with a highest grade point average on a 4.0 scale to represent the graduating class. But since all classes at the school are college prep, honors or Advanced Placement, Principal Nels Pitotti said the school doesn’t use weighted grades to determine a valedictorian.

To be confident that the school’s top student has been subjected to “academic rigor,” Pitotti said valedictorian candidates must have completed at least 30 credits during their high school career as students of the charter school.

The senior with the highest grade-point average is named valedictorian, but in the event of a tie, any classes of a level higher than those offered at the school are considered. If a tie still exists, Pitotti said the school’s board of directors evaluates each candidate in the following areas: academic honors and awards, demonstrated leadership, school involvement and community involvement.

Whatever the case, Pitotti said the school is committed to only honoring a single student as valedictorian.

The Post Falls School District uses grade-point average as the primary criterion for valedictorian, according to counselor Kris Olson. She said a committee of teachers, administrators and counselors reviews the candidates for valedictorian.

Ideally, a candidate would have completed four years of honors classes, and attendance and attitude play into the decision, she said.

Two students share the honor this year.

“We try to stay away from naming more than one, but if their grades and schedules are pretty much mirrored, we go with two,” Olson said.

The Lakeland School District uses a method similar to Post Falls. Grades, completion of advanced courses and everything from character and involvement in school activities are part of the selection process.

Lakeland High has one valedictorian and Timberlake High has three co-valedictorians.

Students who earn either title have a distinct advantage when they apply to college.

North Idaho College actively recruits top students from North Idaho high schools, offering full scholarships to valedictorians and salutatorians.

Bruce Gifford, NIC’s vice president for student services, said the students get a free ride, but the college also benefits.

“As a college, the opportunity to bring in some of the top students from the local high schools is very appealing,” Gifford said. Bright students challenge instructors and fellow students and act as role models, he said.

Kelly Tanabe, author of eight books on college planning, including “Get Into Any College,” said being a top-ranked student can help a high school graduate gain admission to college and increase the chances for scholarships.

“Grades are king for most schools,” Tanabe said. But she said the title of valedictorian itself is not a guarantee that a student will be accepted at some of the most selective colleges. Stanford, for instance, turns down half of the applicants who have a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, she said.

“They are looking for students who do more than hit the books,” Tanabe said.